Polyaniline@N-doped macroporous carbon foam as self-supporting anodes for microbial fuel cells

The inefficient extracellular electron transfer (EET) is detrimental to power generation and waste degradation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, we report a self-supporting anode for MFCs prepared by graphitization of steamed bread slices followed by in-situ polymer-ization to fabricate polyaniline@N-doped macroporous carbon foam (PANI@NMCF). The natural nitrogen-containing wheat four was fermented and carbonized to form NMCF with a high specific surface area of 818.1 m2 g-1. After the NMCF surface modified by PANI, the enhanced hydrophilicity and conductivity of the PANI@NMCF anode would facilitate mi-crobial adhesion, biofilm formation, and electron transfer. The surface improvements enhance the EET process for high-performance MFCs, including a short startup time of 21.7 h, high maximum output power density of 1160 +/- 17 mW m-2, and decolourisation efficiency of 88.6 +/- 1.2% for 36 h. The chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency was about 84.6 +/- 1.1% at end of the operating cycles. This work provides a good foundation for our future development of carbon-based electrode materials for energy conversion and storage devices.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.